Proposed bill aims to extend library hours during finals week
Christen Handley
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: News
A bill will be presented tomorrow night to keep Mullins Library open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during finals week. The Associated Student Government plans to partially fund the library in order for this bill to pass.
In regard to its normal operating hours, the library is able to stay open with the support of several outlets.
"The predominate amount of our funds comes from state legislatures, like most departments of the universities," said Cheryl Banks, library budget officer.
The ASG teamed up with Residents' Interhall Congress to create the bill to fund finals week.
Jong Shin, ASG vice president, has been working hard on lengthening library hours all year, ASG President Carter Ford said.
Shin spoke with library officials earlier in the year about students needing a safe place to study late at night. In turn, those officials agreed to extend the library's hours during the week from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.
"Jong deserves a lot of credit for all the hard work he's put in working with the library," Ford said. "I'm very appreciative of him."
The library pays for over half the cost of its own expenses. Because it receives no student fee money, the library does not have the means to stay open all hours.
"Since there is the staff, electricity and other costs, the library needs additional support," Ford said.
The library bill was created with the hope of providing this additional support.
"We are planning on funding it at $3,000 -?$1,500 for the fall semester and $1,500 for the spring semester," Ford said.
Students on campus have differing feelings about the library's potentially unlimited hours during finals week. Olivia Risch, a freshman nursing major, said she is satisfied with the hours the library offers right now.
"I live at the bottom of the hill, so I don't think I would utilize the library in graveyard shift hours," Risch said.
However, sophomore biochemistry major David Lee expressed a different opinion.
"I think the library should be open 24/7 all the time," he said. "I do most of my studying after midnight, anyway."
A decision will be made by Tuesday night regarding the proposed bill.
In regard to its normal operating hours, the library is able to stay open with the support of several outlets.
"The predominate amount of our funds comes from state legislatures, like most departments of the universities," said Cheryl Banks, library budget officer.
The ASG teamed up with Residents' Interhall Congress to create the bill to fund finals week.
Jong Shin, ASG vice president, has been working hard on lengthening library hours all year, ASG President Carter Ford said.
Shin spoke with library officials earlier in the year about students needing a safe place to study late at night. In turn, those officials agreed to extend the library's hours during the week from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.
"Jong deserves a lot of credit for all the hard work he's put in working with the library," Ford said. "I'm very appreciative of him."
The library pays for over half the cost of its own expenses. Because it receives no student fee money, the library does not have the means to stay open all hours.
"Since there is the staff, electricity and other costs, the library needs additional support," Ford said.
The library bill was created with the hope of providing this additional support.
"We are planning on funding it at $3,000 -?$1,500 for the fall semester and $1,500 for the spring semester," Ford said.
Students on campus have differing feelings about the library's potentially unlimited hours during finals week. Olivia Risch, a freshman nursing major, said she is satisfied with the hours the library offers right now.
"I live at the bottom of the hill, so I don't think I would utilize the library in graveyard shift hours," Risch said.
However, sophomore biochemistry major David Lee expressed a different opinion.
"I think the library should be open 24/7 all the time," he said. "I do most of my studying after midnight, anyway."
A decision will be made by Tuesday night regarding the proposed bill.
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